Young Justice Comic Ties Together DC's Most Epic Events

Is an eighth Crisis looming for the DCU?

By Jesse Schedeen

DC Comics' Young Justice #1 does far more than just bring back a classic teen superhero team.

Warning: this article contains spoilers for Young Justice #1!

This new series opens with the warriors of the alternate dimension known as Gemworld laying siege to Metropolis, taking advantage of Superman's absence to invade Earth. Fortunately, teen heroes like Robin, Impulse, Wonder Girl, Jinny Hex and Teen Lantern all happen to be in town and ready to repel this invading army.

But why has Gemworld suddenly declared war on Earth? Apparently they're tired of having the multiverse repeatedly threatened by Earth's very existence. One character points out that there have been seven Crises impacting the fabric of the DC multiverse, all of which have centered around Earth. Gemworld's defenders are determined to ensure there won't be an eighth Crisis.

Art by Patrick Gleason. (DC Entertainment)

The question is which specific DC storylines make up these seven Crises. No doubt the original Crisis on Infinite Earths is included, as well as 2005's Infinite Crisis and 2008's Final Crisis. We're assuming 2004's Identity Crisis and the current miniseries Heroes in Crisis aren't being counted, as neither story deals with the multiverse. Perhaps writer Brian Bendis is including other cosmic DC epics like Dark Nights: Metal, Flashpoint and Zero Hour, as each one has had a huge impact on the larger DC multiverse. He could even be counting "The Flash of Two Worlds" from 1961's The Flash #123, which marked the very first time heroes from Earth-1 and Earth-2 crossed paths.

Whichever stories are being included in this group of seven, it seems safe to assume that the series is teasing another major Crisis storyline and more big changes to the multiverse. Readers get their first taste of what those changes may entail in this issue, as Impulse is shunted to another world and encounters long-lost Superboy Conner Kent.

Art by Patrick Gleason. (DC Entertainment)

This is Conner's first true appearance since DC's New 52 reboot seemingly eliminated the character from existence. And if he's returned, there's no telling what other forgotten DC heroes might return to prominence in 2019.